5. pl. (Naut.) The strikes of the bell which mark the time;
or the time so designated.
[1913 Webster]

Note: On shipboard, time is marked by a bell, which is struck
eight times at 4, 8, and 12 o'clock. Half an hour after
it has struck ``eight bells'' it is struck once, and at
every succeeding half hour the number of strokes is
increased by one, till at the end of the four hours,
which constitute a watch, it is struck eight times.
[1913 Webster]

{To bear away the bell}, to win the prize at a race where the
prize was a bell; hence, to be superior in something.
--Fuller.

bell cot — noun a small shelter for bells; has a gable or shed roof • Syn: ↑bell cote • Hypernyms: ↑shelter * * * noun or bell cote : a small or subsidiary construction frequently corbeled out from the walls of a structure and used to contain and support… … Useful english dictionary

Bell — Bell, n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See {Bellow}.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. [1913 Webster] Note … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Bell arch — Bell Bell, n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See {Bellow}.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Bell cage — Bell Bell, n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See {Bellow}.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Bell carriage — Bell Bell, n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See {Bellow}.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Bell deck — Bell Bell, n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See {Bellow}.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English